Old Glory

The American Flag

Long May It Wave

I attended a political meet and greet Sunday evening. I'll share more about that soon. I got a lot of pictures of the candidates, both speaking from the podium and standing around before and after the event. Yet, I feel what I got is of mediocre quality.

As I walked out of the building the flag caught my attention. It was furled in the wind with the sun low in the sky behind it. I quickly shot ten or so images. This is the last one and is my favorite image from this photo shoot. I am almost embarrassed to admit that, at first, I was disappointed that THIS was my best photo, and not those I took of the candidates at the meeting. Yet, I quickly realized that THIS one picture said more about the current elections than any picture I will take in the next few weeks.

The American flag is perhaps the most recognized icon representing the United States of America. This icon Represents freedom. It is about having the choice to vote for which ever candidate we want. It is about freedom of speech. It is about pride.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!